Author: Chalian Meline

NOTICE

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
March 29, 2010

On March 31, at 12 o’clock, a regular Government session will take
place. The agenda includes issues concerning spheres of education,
economic, healthcare and tourism. Issue related to the preparation
activities for the NKR NA’s forthcoming elections will also be
discussed.

Amendments will be proposed to the laws "On Policy", "On Weapon",
and in some previously adopted government decisions.

We invite the representatives of mass media to elucidate the work of
the Government.

ENVOY RETURN DISCUSSED IN TURKEY-US PHONE TALK

WorldBulletin.Net
March 30 2010
Turkey

Ambassador Namik Tan was recalled to Ankara after the Foreign Relations
Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution
on the incidents of 1915 on March 4, 2010.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 10:27 Spokesman for the United States
Department of State, Philip Crowley, said Monday that during the
phone conversation of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and
his U.S. counterpart Hillary Clinton "the issue of Turkish Ambassador
Namik Tan and the possibility of his return back to Washington,
D.C. were discussed".

Speaking at a daily press conference, Crowley said that Turkey would
decide on when to send back Ambassador Tan to Washington, D.C.

Ambassador Namik Tan was recalled to Ankara after the Foreign Relations
Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution
on the incidents of 1915 on March 4, 2010. The resolution supported
Armenian allegations on the incidents of 1915.

Davutoglu and Clinton also discussed the issues of Minsk Group process
and Upper Karabakh, Turkey-Armenia relations, Clinton’s recent visit
to Russia and the most recent developments in the Middle East.

Davutoglu and Clinton had a "warm and constructive" conversation. The
two leaders underlined the importance of strategic partnership between

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg also said Monday they
wanted to see Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan in Washington, D.C. again.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington, D.C. on Monday, Steinberg
said that Tan was a highly respectable ambassador whom the United
States waited impatiently to work with.

In reference to the phone conversation of Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu and his U.S. counterpart Hillary Clinton on Monday,
Steinberg said that, among the allies of the United States, the
dialogue with Turkey was the most closest and warmest.

Davutoglu’s phone conversation with Clinton facilitated an important
opportunity for the continuation of close dialogue between Turkey
and the U.S., Steinberg said.

Agence France Presse — English
March 26, 2010 Friday 2:30 PM GMT

Head of Turkey’s Armenians urges an end to ‘genocide’ row

ankara, March 26 2010

The head of Turkey’s tiny Armenian community called Friday for an end
to the "useless" dispute over whether Armenians were victims of
genocide under the Ottoman Empire.

"It is useless to perpetuate this (row) with a grudge after one
hundred years," Bedros Sirinoglu told reporters after a meeting with
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"There is no use in dwelling on this too much… Many such incidents
happened throughout the world… but they were closed. I cannot
understand why this one is not being closed," he added.

The dispute was rekindled earlier this month when the US House Foreign
Affairs Committee approved a non-binding resolution branding the
killings a genocide, with Sweden’s parliament following suit shortly,
prompting a furious Ankara to recall its ambassadors from both
countries.

The tensions added further uncertainty to an already fragile deal
between Turkey and Armenia signed in October to end decades of
hostility, establish diplomatic ties and open their border.

Sirinoglu said he remained optimistic that Ankara and Yerevan would
press ahead with the deal, which needs parliamentary ratification in
both countries to take effect.

"I am hopeful that Turkey and Armenia will both learn a lesson from
the past and will not repeat the same mistakes and that the job will
be rapidly finished," he said.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin perished in mass killings
and deportations in 1915-1917 in what was an organised extermination
campaign.

Turkey rejects the genocide label, arguing that 300,000 to 500,000
Armenians and at least as many Turks perished in civil strife when
Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with Russian
forces invading the crumbling empire.

news.am, Armenia
March 27 2010

Araz Azimov: Azerbaijan agrees to Madrid principles

14:03 / 03/27/2010 `The Armenian President should be careful about his
statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as Azerbaijan has
repeatedly made proposals. Our initiatives are contained in the Madrid
Principles,’ Azerbaijani Deputy FM Araz Azimov said in his interview
with the ANS TV Channel.

`The Armenian President should consider the proposals with all
seriousness if it thinks about his own people, who want to live in
long-lasting peace and cooperation with Azerbaijanis. Time is running
out. I think the Armenian side is applying inadvisable methods to gain
time. I do not think they will succeed. On the one hand, they have to
observe international law and, on the other hand, appreciate
Azerbaijan’s seeking a compromise in the true sense of the word. If
they do not, Azerbaijan will have to restore its territorial integrity
Azerbaijan will, of course, ensure the security of its Armenian
citizens,’ Azimov said.

NEWS.am reminds readers that at his meeting with representatives of
the Armenian community in Syria, RA President Serzh Sargsyan stated
Armenia is not ready for unilateral concessions on Nagorno-Karabakh,
but it is expecting Azerbaijan’s proposals.

T.P.

Armenian banking sector shows activation tendency

26.03.2010 16:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian banking sector shows gradual activation
tendency, based on January-February results.

As HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc Chief Executive Officer Astrid Clifford told
a news conference in Yerevan, `data for January-February 2010 proves
the rising demand for crediting; still, we’ll continue to practice
caution.’

`There are no fundamental problems in Armenian foreign currency
exchange market,’ Ms. Clifford said, commenting on fluctuations in
exchange rate.

On March 17, AMD/USD exchange rate amounted to AMD 400,10/ USD 1, thus
exceeding the `psychological’ mark.

HSBC Bank Armenia was established as a closed joint stock company
under the name Midland Armenia Bank J.S.C. on 1996 and has been
renamed into HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc on 1999. The bank is a joint
venture between the HSBC Group, which has a 70% ownership, and members
of overseas Armenian businesses with 30% ownership. It is one of the
leading banks in the foreign exchange market.

HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc offers a wide range of products and services to
individual as well as corporate customers in Armenia and abroad.

The bank is the member of SWIFT and Bankmail payment

Regular sitting of interdepartmental commission for coordination of
defence strategic review process takes place

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN. A regular sitting of the
interdepartmental commission for coordination of Armenia’s defence
strategic review process took place at the RA Ministry of Defence on
March 24. The sitting was presided over by the commission co-chairmen
– Secretary of the RA National Security Council Arthur Baghdasarian
and Armenian Defence Minister Seyran Ohanian.

The participants discussed and summarized the work, which was done at
the third stage of the defence strategic review process and was aimed
at outlining further planning regarding state government bodies
engaged in the sphere of defence. It was stated that the package of
documents developed by the commission provides a strong basis for
long-term planning in defence. A decision was made to present the
strategic planning documents prepared during the given stage for
approval within the envisaged period.

The press service of the RA Ministry of Defence reported that the
co-chairmen gave instructions regarding further work and the start of
the fourth stage of the defence strategic review process.

WORKS IMPLEMENTED IN THE 3RD ROUND OF ARMENIAN DEFENSE STRATEGY REVIEW SUMMED UP

ang/en
2010-03-24

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMEPRESS: The regular session of the
inter-department commission coordinating the works on reviewing defense
strategy was held today in the Armenian Defense Ministry, chaired
by the chairmen of the commission Secretary of the National Security
Council Arthur Baghdasaryan and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan.

Armenian Defense Ministry press service told Armenpress that the works
implemented during the third round of reviewing defense strategy were
discussed and summed up at the session.

The package of documents worked out by the commission has laid a solid
basis for implementing a long-term planning in the sphere of defense.

The co-chairs expressed gratification for the work implemented by the
commission and expert groups subordinated to it in the previous months.

A decision was adopted at the session to submit the documents of
strategic planning drafted during the given round to conformation in
the defined terms.

The co-chairs gave relevant instructions on organizing the further
works of the commission and starting of the fourth round of the
defense strategic review.

CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS MARKED IN THE REPUBLIC IN FIGHTING AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS

d/595761/lang/en
2010-03-24

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS: A considerable progress has been marked
in the recent years in the republic in fighting against tuberculosis,
Deputy Healthcare Minister of Armenia Alexander Ghukasyan said
today at a discussion dedicated to the National Day of Fighting
against Tuberculosis held in the National Office of Fighting against
Tuberculosis.

The fighting against that decease in Armenia is implemented within
the frameworks of the 2007-2015 national program on fighting against
tuberculosis conformed by the decision of the Armenian government. The
Healthcare Ministry closely cooperates with a number of international
and local organizations, particularly with World Health Organization,
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), French "Doctors
without Boundaries" and German "GOPA-Epos" institutions.

According to A. Ghukasyan, as a result of the national program on
fighting against tuberculosis, all the institutions connected with
anti-tuberculosis activity, are ensured with medicine and relevant
laboratory equipments. There are cabinets of fighting against
tuberculosis in the territorial polyclinics of Yerevan and in all the
Armenian provinces, subordinated to which there are phlegm-gathering
points.

A microscopic examination of phlegm, roentgen-fluorography researches
are organized by specialists, as a result of which the revealed
infectious patients are sent to specialized establishments, and the
treatment of the types of deceases which present no risk is organized
in ambulatory conditions.

Two thousand and six new cases of tuberculosis were revealed in 2005,
and in 2009 – 1474 cases. If in 2005 the overall number of patients
suffering from tuberculosis was 6 455, in 2009 that number was 3 446.

In 2005, 167 people suffering from tuberculosis died, and in 2009 –
127 people.

Head of the National Office of Fighting against Tuberculosis Narine
Mezhlumyan noted that the revelation of such patients in Armenia,
the treatment and the further control are implemented within the
frameworks of state order, free of charge.

"If the treatment is organized in the right time and in a right
way, tuberculosis will be completely cured. From that viewpoint the
enhancement of competence level is of great importance. Everyone must
understand that in case of not receiving a treatment not only that
person but also the surrounding people are threatened with danger,"
N. Mezhlumyan said.

According to her, any person with tuberculosis can infect 10-15
people in a year in case of not receiving a treatment. Nine million
people throughout the world are annually infected with that decease,
two million of who dies. The major part of patients with tuberculosis
are registered in China and India.

Armenian National Committee of Orange County
5035 West McFadden Avenue
Santa Ana, California 92704

PRESS RELEASE
March 25, 2010
Contact: Armen Garabedian

ANC ORANGE COUNTY HOSTS FOURTH ANNUAL WALK FOR REMEMBRANCE

SANTA ANA, CA—The Armenian National Committee of Orange County (ANC
OC) will host its 4th annual Walk for Remembrance on Saturday April
17, 2010. The Walk serves as a reminder of the treacherous forced
deportation of 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide as they
walked from their ancestral homes, through a gauntlet of depredations,
to the Syrian desert.

The day’s event will begin at Forty Martyr’s Armenian Apostolic Church
in Santa Ana, CA with a requiem service. The five mile Walk commences
at 1:00 pm passing through portions of Santa Ana, Garden Grove,
Westminster, and Fountain Valley. The Walk will conclude with a short
commemorative program featuring local community leaders at Forty
Martyr’s Armenian Apostolic Church’s Genocide Memorial. Light
refreshments will be provided.

To register for the Walk and for more information please visit

ANC of Orange County advances the social, economic, cultural, and
political rights of the area’s Armenian American community and
promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the
grassroots and public policy levels. The ANC OC has been active in the
county for over 25 years, working with other community organizations
in Orange County and local ANCs throughout the United States to
promote greater understanding of Armenian American issues.

LARGE SCALE DEFACEMENTS OF SWEDISH WEB SITES BY TURKISH HACKTIVISTS

Forbes
ll/2010/03/23/large-scale-defacements-of-swedish-w eb-sites-by-turkish-hacktivists/
March 23 2010

The Swedish parliament recently passed a resolution recognizing the
deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire (now
the nation state of Turkey) in 1915 and 1916. The Turkish government
has protested the action by Sweden as well as the United States (H
Res 252) in recent days through official protests and by calling off
this year’s meeting of the American-Turkish Council.

Additionally, on March 17, 2010, Turkey’s Prime Minister threatened
to deport 100,000 Armenians back to their homeland.

Coinciding with their government’s protests, Turkish hackers have
defaced over 600 Swedish websites since March 1st according to the
Zone-h.org archive.

The following hackers are involved in the protest: â- 1923Turk â- Sql @
live.se * () â- DeathSystem â- Bond Bey â- Akincilar
(cyberwarrior.org) â- Ghost61 (Turksec.info) â- iSkorpitx SQL @ live.se
is an Arabic hacker crew whose .se defacement text focused on Israel
rather than Sweden. One of the Turkish hacker crews who have not posted
a defacement of Swedish websites at zone-h.org is Turkguvenligi.info
who GreyLogic analysts have featured in past IntelFusion FLASH Traffic
briefs. Their Facebook group has become inactive as of mid-February
and they have set up a new forum called TurkSec.info(registration
required). One member of that forum, Ghost61, has participated in these
attacks while the more well-known members like Agd_Scorp have not.

Considering the lack of Swedish government websites hacked and
the inaction on the part of more well-known Turkish hackers, it is
GreyLogic’s estimate that this action is not state-sponsored but
falls in the category of a purely voluntary hacktivist event.

The above post is excerpted from the March 22, 2010 issue of
IntelFusion FLASH Traffic. To commemorate the publishing of our 32nd
issue and to help spread the word of this unique cyber intelligence
weekly, non-subscribers may order single issues from our archives at
an introductory rate of only $75 each through March 31, 2010.